Sodium phosphate is a chemical compound, the sodium salt of phosphoric acid.
It appears as a whitish crystalline powder.
What it is used for and where
Food
Included in the list of European food additives as E339 acidity regulator and chelating agent as primary functions, but can also act as a leavening agent, thickener, emulsifier and stabiliser.
- E339 (i) Monosodium phosphate CAS 7558-80-7
- E339 (ii) Disodium phosphate CAS 7558-79-4
- E339 (iii) Trisodium phosphate CAS 7601-54-9
Safety
The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings added to Food (FAF) provided a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of phosphates (E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452) as food additives. The Panel considered that (1). The Panel considered that phosphates have low acute oral toxicity and there is no concern regarding genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The Panel calculated a group Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for phosphates expressed as phosphorus of 40 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day and concluded that this ADI is protective for the human population (1).
Cosmetics
Anti-sebum. Controls and reduces emissions from the sebaceous glands, which are responsible for greasy, enlarged pores in the skin, where it occurs, particularly on the forehead, cheeks, nose and hair. Adjuvant in the treatment of acne.
Buffering agent. It is an iingredient that can bring an alkaline or acid solution to a certain pH level and prevent it from changing, in practice a pH stabiliser that can effectively resist instability and pH change.
Deodorant agent. When substances that give off an unpleasant odour are included in cosmetic formulations (typical examples are methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulphide derived from garlic), deodorants attenuate or eliminate the unpleasant exhalation.
Other uses
- Cleaning : degreaser, removes stains
- Water : softener
- Toothpastes : whitener
Sodium phosphates, studies
Monosodium Phosphate
Molecular Formula H2NaO4P NaH2PO4
Molecular Weight 119.976 g/mol
CAS 7601-54-9 13472-35-0 / 7558-80-7 / 7632-05-5
EC Number 231-449-2 / 231-558-5
Synonyms:
- Ortofosfato trisodico
- Fosfato di sodio
- diidrogenofosfato di sodio
- disodium hydrogen phosphate
- phosphoric acid, sodium salt
- sodium biphosphate
- sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate
- phosphoric acid, disodium salt, dodecahydrate
References_____________________________________________________________________
(1) EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF); Younes M, Aquilina G, Castle L, Engel KH, Fowler P, Frutos Fernandez MJ, Fürst P, Gürtler R, Husøy T, Mennes W, Moldeus P, Oskarsson A, Shah R, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Wölfle D, Aggett P, Cupisti A, Fortes C, Kuhnle G, Lillegaard IT, Scotter M, Giarola A, Rincon A, Tard A, Gundert-Remy U. Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid-phosphates - di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338-341, E 343, E 450-452) as food additives and the safety of proposed extension of use. EFSA J. 2019 Jun 12;17(6):e05674. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5674.
Sodium phosphate 
